Policy Manual and Student Handbook - Hamline

Policy Manual and Student Handbook

Advanced Studies in Public Administration

Doctorate in Public Administration (DPA)

Hamline University

2015

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Contact Information

Hamline University

School of Business

1536 Hewitt Avenue, MS A-1740

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104

Phone 651.523.2284

Fax number 651.523.3098

Offices are located on the second floor of East Hall

Kristen Norman-Major, Director, Public Administration Programs

651-523-2814

[email protected]

Erin McCoy, Graduate Programs Advisor

651-523-2325

[email protected]

Anne McCarthy, Dean

651-523-2335

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



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Table of Contents

Section I

Scope and Application of These Rules…………………………………………………………… 1

Section II

Overview of the DPA Program…………………………………………………………………… 2

Section III

Admission to the DPA Program………………………………………………………………….. 5

Section IV

Requirements for the DPA Degree……………………………………………………………….. 7

Section V

Grading Policy and Academic Honesty…………………………………………………………. 12

Section VI

Examinations……………………………………………………………………………………. 14

Section VII

The Dissertation…………………………………………………………………………………. 15

Section VIII

DPA Program Time Limits……………………………………………………………………… 22

Section IX

DPA Program Governance……………………………………………………………………… 24

DPA Policy Manual and Student Handbook 1

Section I

Scope and Application of These Policies

The Policy Manual and Student Handbook, Advanced Studies in Public Administration, outlines

the policies and procedures governing the degree of Doctorate in Public Administration (DPA) at

Hamline University for all students in the Advanced Studies program who matriculated in the

cohort entering after September 1, 2013. The rules here supplement all university and graduate

school-wide rules found in Hamline University’s Graduate Bulletin. This Policy Manual also

provides information regarding requirements for the degree of DPA, including procedures and

expectations for the dissertation.

Interested parties should review all of the policies and procedures presented here. They establish

expectations for advanced studies education that exceed expectations for master’s-level

education.

Except as noted below, the policies in this Policy Manual apply to all students in the Advanced

Studies program who matriculated in a cohort entering after September 1, 2015. Students

enrolled before this date are governed by the Policy Manual for their class and year of

matriculation.


Section II

Overview of the Advanced Studies Program

A. Goals

Advanced Studies in Public Administration is a part-time program directed toward practicing

public and nonprofit administrators and those working in closely related areas. It offers an

educational opportunity for professionals who wish to build on their experience and knowledge

and who anticipate much greater future responsibilities. The Advanced Studies program

empowers students to undertake significant research in public administration and apply this

knowledge as a practitioner. Holders of the Doctorate of Public Administration (DPA) will add

to the ranks of those able to generate, evaluate, interpret, and share knowledge of public

administration and its related fields, thus expanding their skills for effective public leadership.

The Hamline University School of Business (HSB) is committed to an adult model of learning.

The Advanced Studies program has been structured around learning communities that provide

mutual support for students in both their coursework and dissertation preparation. Entering

students become members of a learning community (known as a cohort) that moves through the

program’s core courses together.

The program is interdisciplinary, intersectoral, and intercultural in scope, recognizing that the

field of public administration, as well as the larger field of governance, increasingly demand

these perspectives.

The Advanced Studies program embodies Hamline University’s commitment to life-long

learning and public service through the following objectives:

To explore a wide range of contemporary ideas and practices related to the administration

and leadership of public and nonprofit organizations,

To examine the critical issues and challenges facing senior managers in the complex and

changing environment of governance and politics,

To create the opportunity for experienced, reflective practitioners to contribute new

knowledge to the field of public administration through applied research,


To develop an expanded community of reflective public administration practitioners,

thereby improving the quality of public service.

The DPA faculty have set learning goals for the DPA program and will assess outcomes in the

program based on the following list of things students will be or have by the end of the program

students will:

be critical and analytical thinkers,

have advanced research skills,

have the skills and knowledge to work with diverse groups and individuals,

have a mastery of public administration concepts and theories.

B. Degree Offered

Hamline University offers the degree of a Doctor in Public Administration (DPA). Students who

complete all the requirements except completion of a dissertation (ABD) may opt to receive a

Certificate in Advanced Public Administration (CAPA).

C. Program Requirements

The DPA degree requires:

1. 48 semester credits beyond the master’s degree – ten courses (40 semester credits) of

doctoral-level course work,

2. the successful completion of a take-home final comprehensive exam,

3. the completion and defense of a dissertation involving 8 semester credits (four 2-credit

dissertation research courses).

The DPA is designed as a part-time program where students generally take one class per semester

but may take up to two. The DPA program is not intended to be full-time program.

E. The Learning Community Model

The Advanced Studies program is structured according to a learning community model. This

reflects an educational philosophy that encourages and promotes cooperative, adult learning at the

doctoral level. New Advanced Studies students entering in the fall semester will complete many of

their required core courses together.

F. Academic Advisor

The academic advisor for all DPA students is Erin McCoy. Erin is available for help with issues


regarding registration, grading issues, policies, and general questions about the DPA program and

the School of Business. If you are uncertain who to contact with your question, please start with

Erin and she can guide you to the correct person.

G. Program Diversity

The Advanced Studies program welcomes professionals with diverse professional and career

backgrounds, including (but not limited to) health care, education, social services, environmental

management, and public safety. The program also welcomes students from diverse social

backgrounds.

Hamline University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex,

disability, religion, age, affectional preference, or veteran status. We have created a program with

students from a wide range of backgrounds and believe that education is enhanced by a diversity of

views, backgrounds, and interests.

The Advanced Studies program works with a broad range of learners to strengthen their academic

knowledge of public administration before entering the program, during the program (especially in

the first course, “Historical Foundations and Professional Development”), or both if necessary. This

diversity of students’ academic backgrounds and work experiences is one of the strengths of the

program, which dovetails with its interdisciplinary foundation and Hamline University’s rich liberal

arts tradition.


Section III

Admission to the Advanced Studies Program

Admission to the program is selective. In evaluating candidates, the major considerations are

academic and career potential. The goal is to attract a diversified mix of participants and to create

and sustain an active learning community.

The DPA degree is specifically directed toward practitioners. Thus, candidates for admission to the

program must have significant work experience in an appropriate field, plus a master’s degree (or at

least 36 graduate-level semester credit hours) in a relevant subject. If the Admissions Committee

determines that a prospective student meets all of the standards for admission but needs to do

further academic preparation prior to admission, this will be stated in the admission letter and the

student will have up to a year to complete this preparatory work before formally entering the

program.

A. Admission Criteria

Criteria for admission are as follows:

A master’s degree or 36 semester credit hours of graduate level course work, from an

accredited college or university in political science, public administration, or some other

relevant field. A grade point average of 3.5 or higher in graduate level work is expected.

Students admitted without sufficient background in public administration will have one year

to complete the appropriate coursework in the MPA program before admission to the

Advanced Studies program.

B. The Admission Process

Admission to the program is granted for the fall semester in odd years only. Applications should be

received no later than April 1. Applicants may be interviewed and final decisions on admissions

made in May.

The following must be included with the application for admission:

1. Professional resume indicating three or more years of relevant work experience,

2. Three letters of recommendation from people who have knowledge of the applicant’s

abilities,


3. A written personal statement or essay outlining the applicant’s career objectives,

4. A sample of recent professional or academic writing.

C. International Students

Students who are citizens of countries other than the United States must submit documentation

regarding proficiency in English and financial support for tuition costs and personal expenses. The

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all applicants whose native language

is not English. The Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) required to obtain a visa cannot be issued until

Hamline has received TOEFL results (with a score of 550 or better) and valid documentation of

financial support. International students are required to obtain health insurance before classes begin.

The DPA is designed as part-time program where students generally take one class per semester

and is not intended to be full-time programs. International students can take two courses per

semester which is usually sufficient to meet visa requirements. However, Hamline University

makes no promise or representation that matriculation into the DPA program meets the

requirements necessary to obtain a student visa. International students who wish to apply or enroll

should consult with the International and Off-Campus Programs (IOCP) office for details.


Section IV

Requirements for the DPA Degree

and Public Administration Certificate

A. Graduation Requirements

The requirements for completion of the DPA degree are:

Admission to the program and the completion of any required preparatory coursework.

Completion of all required courses, including:

o 6 core semester courses (24 credits),

o 4 elective semester courses (16 credits),

o 8 credits in dissertation research and writing (DPA 8992-8995) in addition to

DPA 8507, Dissertation I: Advanced Research Methods.

Maintenance of a 3.3 grade point average throughout all coursework.

A passing score on a final comprehensive written exam.

Preparation and defense of an acceptable dissertation proposal.

Advancement to candidacy will occur after core and elective courses, final comprehensive

exam, and dissertation proposal defense are successfully completed.

Completion and a successful defense of a dissertation.

Final submission of the dissertation to Digital Commons for publication.

B. Core Course Requirements

Required core courses: 24 credits

DPA 8501 Historical Foundations and Professional Development 4 credits

DPA 8502 Research Methods 4 credits

DPA 8503 Critical Issues for Public Administrators 4 credits

DPA 8504 Advanced Organizational Theory 4 credits

DPA 8506 Advanced Seminar in Public Policy 4 credits

DPA 8507 Dissertation I: Advanced Research Methods 4 credits

Elective courses: 16 credits Each semester, at least one elective course will be offered to doctoral students, who may take it at

their discretion. A total of four elective courses are required for the DPA degree. A student may

also be required to take one or more specific electives if their work in Historical Foundations and

Professional Development suggests that their academic preparation is inadequate in one or more

particular subject areas. These courses may be in addition to the four required elective courses.


Besides the Advanced Studies electives, DPA students have these options for completing the four

required elective courses:

Independent study under the supervision of a faculty member and approved by the program

director. Students may register at any time for independent study, but are limited to using

independent studies for two elective courses unless an exception has been approved by the

Public Administration Program Director.

Master’s level courses in the Hamline University School of Business. Any such course must

be approved for doctoral credit by both the instructor and the program director, and it may

not substantially repeat content that the student has learned in any graduate program. This

option requires the completion of additional assignments, to be arranged between the

student and the course instructor(s).

Transfer of up to two courses, or eight semester credits, from another accredited university.

These must be post-master’s level credits in fields directly related to public administration

and/or nonprofit management and the student must have earned grades of “B” or better. Any

transfer credit must be approved by the program director, with appropriate faculty

consultation.

Dissertation: 8 credits

In addition to GPA 8507, Dissertation I, DPA students must complete 8 semester credits in public

administration research and dissertation writing (DPA 8992-8995).

The completion and successful defense of a dissertation is the final requirement for the Doctor of

Public Administration degree.

See Dissertation Details in Section VII.

C. Core Course Descriptions

DPA 8501 Historical Foundations and Professional Development Examines how the theory and practice of public administration as a field of study has evolved, and

is designed and practiced. Students are prepared to integrate theory into practice at an advanced

level.

DPA 8502 Research Methods

Introduces students to the basic techniques of quantitative and qualitative research required in the

field of public administration. Students learn how to define a research project and select appropriate

methodologies to investigate political and social phenomena. Emphasis is also placed on

interpreting and critically evaluating public administration research.


DPA 8503 Critical Issues for Public Administrators (taken as the last core course)

Identifies and explores contemporary issues facing public administration practitioners and how

those issues relate to major ideas in the history of the field. This course examines leading-edge

professional practices related to these issues and the extent to which these practices have been

successful in local, state, and national contexts. Students integrate their learning from the other core

courses and prepare for written exams.

DPA 8504 Advanced Organizational Theory

An advanced, in-depth examination of the concepts, analytical tools, and personal skills underlying

behavior in organizations. Explores the relationship between task accomplishment and human

fulfillment in the context of planned organizational change.

DPA 8506 Advanced Seminar in Public Policy

Examines the theoretical and philosophical approaches used to systematically examine the public

policy process. Because no single theory or model can adequately describe the complexities of this

process, the analytical frameworks and assumptions of the major approaches to policy analysis are

explored, along with emerging theories. In individual assignments, students are encouraged to

examine policy issues and frameworks that relate to potential dissertation topics.

DPA 8507 Dissertation I: Advanced Research Methods Prepares students to design, develop, and complete applied dissertation research projects. Students

work independently with their committee chair/mentor to complete the proposal outline. By the end

of the course, students will have developed a dissertation proposal outline of sufficient quality to be

submitted to their dissertation committees for review and ultimate approval. The format for this

proposal can be found on the DPA Dissertation Resources site in Blackboard.

DPA 8992-8995 Dissertation The actual research and completion of a doctoral dissertation, in which the student works closely

with his or her dissertation committee.

D. Completion of Coursework

1. Core Courses First priority for DPA students is the completion of the required core courses, in the following

order:

DPA 8501 Historical Foundations and Professional Development, fall year 1

DPA 8502 Research Methods, spring year 1

DPA 8504 Advanced Organizational Theory, fall year 2

DPA 8506 Advanced Seminar in Public Policy, spring year 2

DPA 8503 Critical Issues for Public Administrators, fall year 3


DPA 8507 Dissertation I: Advanced Research Methods, taken after above core courses and at

least 3 electives have been completed.

Students may request permission to vary from this schedule and take one or more courses with a

different learning community. Prior approval of the program director is required to do this. The

student must demonstrate that adhering to his or her learning community’s core course sequence

will create a hardship.

2. Elective Courses Elective courses may be taken during any semester at the student’s discretion but must be

completed before he or she takes the final comprehensive written examination.

See Section VIII regarding Leave of Absence and Continuous Enrollment policies.

3. Dissertation Courses

DPA 8507 Dissertation I:

Prepares students to design, develop, and complete applied dissertation research

projects. Students work independently with their committee chair/mentor to

complete the proposal outline. By the end of the course, students will have

developed a dissertation proposal outline of sufficient quality to be submitted to their

dissertation committees for review and ultimate approval. The format for this

proposal can be found on the DPA Dissertation Resources site in Blackboard. The

course is taken after above core courses and at least 3 electives are completed.

Comprehensive exams must be complete and approved prior to moving past this

course in the dissertation process.

DPA 8992 Dissertation II:

Independent work with committee chair/mentor to complete the writing of chapters

one (Introduction) and two (Literature Review) of the dissertation proposal.

(Pass/Fail – 2 Credits)

DPA 8993 Dissertation III:

Independent work with committee chair/mentor to complete the writing of chapter

three and receive the approval of Hamline’s Institutional Review Board for the

research. (Pass/Fail – 2 Credits)

Proposal Defense:

Formal defense of the full dissertation proposal (chapters one through three) is

accomplished at this time.

DPA 8994 Dissertation IV:

Independent work with committee chair/mentor gathering data and completing the


research based on the approved proposal (chapter four) (Pass/Fail – 2 Credits)

DPA 8995 Dissertation V: Independent work with committee chair/mentor writing analysis and

conclusions (chapter five). At the conclusion of this course the student will present

their final and formal defense of their work to their committee and other members of

the Hamline faculty. (Pass/Fail – 2 Credits)

All of these courses are a semester long course with the allowance for receipt of an “incomplete”

grade and continuation of the course in a subsequent semester. Failure to complete any of the

courses listed above within a two semester timeframe will require a formal appeal to the DPA

Program Director for approval to continue the dissertation process. Students, who for financial aid

purposes must be enrolled in 4 credits, may enroll in two of the 2-credit dissertation courses

simultaneously.


Section V

Grading Policy and Academic Honesty

A. Grading Policy

Students will be expected to meet high academic standards throughout the program.

The Advanced Studies program uses the following letter grades:

A = 4.00 (outstanding in every respect)

A- = 3.70 (outstanding in most respects)

B+ = 3.33 (better than satisfactory)

B = 3.00 (satisfactory in every respect)

B- = 2.70 (meets but does not exceed minimum standards)

No course or independent study with a grade of less than B- will count toward the DPA degree.

Each student must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.3 on a scale of 4.0 to remain in the

program. If at any time after the student’s first years in the program, his or her GPA falls below 3.3,

he or she will receive a letter stating what action will be required to address the situation.

A student who has been dismissed for failure to meet this standard may petition the DPA Program

Director for one of the following:

Unconditional reinstatement to the DPA program.

Future reinstatement contingent upon the student’s achievement of a specific set of goals.

B. Academic Honesty

All materials prepared by any student for any HSB class or independent study must be the sole

work of that student, unless otherwise stated or required. By enrolling in any HSB class or

independent study, a student attests that he or she will not engage in academic dishonesty or

plagiarism while completing any activity connected to the class.

“Academic dishonesty” and “plagiarism” are defined to mean a student representing work or

materials as his or her own when he or she has not produced such work or materials solely by his or

her own efforts. Failure to provide proper citation and attribution to the source of any text, visual

material, or conceptual system also constitutes a form of academic dishonesty.

If a class permits group projects, each student in a group shall contribute his or her fair and

proportionate share to the project.


Students normally may not submit work or materials for a class if they have previously (or are

simultaneously) submitting the same or substantially similar work or materials to another class.

Exceptions are sometimes possible if they obtain permission from the instructors of all the relevant

classes.

Students deemed by HSB or its faculty to have engaged in academic dishonesty or plagiarism may

be subject to academic penalties up to and including expulsion from Hamline University. Students

will be asked to sign an acknowledgement of Academic Honesty Policy at the orientation or in their

first class.

C. First Year Review

Upon the completion of the first year of coursework, all students shall have their work reviewed by

the Advanced Studies faculty. If, in the judgment of the faculty, a student is not making satisfactory

progress, the faculty may terminate him or her from the program, ask the student to withdraw from

the program, or ask the student to successfully complete designated remedial work.


Section VI

Comprehensive Examination

After completing all course work, students are required to demonstrate mastery of the core course

material and, more importantly, competency in problem-solving by passing a take-home

examination. This exam is offered several times each year. The exam covers all of the material in

the five core courses.

Students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.3 and complete any outstanding incompletes in order to

take the exam. Students intending to take the exam must notify the HSB Comprehensive Exam

Coordinator at least a month before they would like to take the test.

The exam consists of four questions that require the student to integrate the material he or she has

learned in the required classes, and to solve specific problems.

Students are permitted to take the exam home and are given two weeks to work on it. Students may

not consult with anyone else while working on the exam, though they may consult any written

materials they wish.

Students who fail the exam will be permitted to take it again (with different questions posed).

However, students who fail to the exam twice will be required to meet with their advisor and the

DPA Program Director to determine whether they should continue in the program. Students may

take the exam a third time if it is determined that they have made sufficient progress to warrant

continuation in the program.

Previous exam questions are available to all students from the HSB Comprehensive Exam

Coordinator. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their learning communities and to

organize study groups to prepare for the exam.


Section VII

The Dissertation

A. Advancement to Candidacy

Upon a student’s completion of all course work, the successful completion of the comprehensive

exam, and the approval of a dissertation proposal (chapters 1-3) by his/her dissertation committee,

s/he will be recommended by his/her dissertation committee chair for advancement to candidacy.

Upon receipt of this approval, the student may register for the two final dissertation courses (DPA

8994 and 8995).

B. The DPA Dissertation A dissertation is an original book-length contribution of scientifically valid and reliable research

that demonstrates its author’s expertise in a particular field or issue of study. It is expected that the

student will design, investigate, and gather original data that with analysis, will lead to new

information on a subject allowing the researcher to generate conclusions that will advance the field

of public administration.

All dissertations must include:

Thorough review of the literature that demonstrates a student’s familiarity with and

knowledge of previous research within a field and topic of study,

Posing of question(s) that ultimately lead up to a specific research question, or

hypotheses which the research attempts to answer,

Analysis of data and an answer to the research question with knowledge premised

upon a methodologically rigorous study that provides empirical support for that

answer,

Conclusions that demonstrate how the dissertation adds an original contribution to

the field, and

Excellence in writing, English language use and construction that follows APA

guidelines, and is publication ready.

C. Selection of the Dissertation Topic

The first formal step in the dissertation process commences with enrollment in DPA 8507,

Dissertation I: Advanced Seminar in Research Methods. Through independent work with their

committee chair, the course prepares students to design, develop, and complete applied dissertation

research projects. The nature and purpose of dissertation research is explored, and technical issues

relevant to research in the field of public administration are examined. By the end of the course,

students will have developed a dissertation proposal outline of sufficient quality to be submitted to


their dissertation committees for review and ultimate approval. The format for this proposal outline

can be found on the DPA Dissertation Resources site in Blackboard.

D. The Dissertation Proposal Outline The dissertation proposal is a 20- to 30-page general outline/plan for the dissertation. The format

for the proposal outline can be found on the DPA Dissertation Resource site in Blackboard. In

addition to the development of the research question(s) the following components are critical:

Statement of the problem the research will deal with, including a general description

of the issues involved,

Grounding of the topic in appropriate theoretical literature from the public

administration field, and

Description of the methodology and research design to be used.

Before a student can proceed to the actual writing of a dissertation, the proposal must be accepted

by his or her dissertation committee and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

E. The Dissertation Committee The dissertation committee must consist of at least three members but may have up to five.

The chair must be a faculty member in the Hamline School of Business who has an earned

doctorate that required the completion of a dissertation.

The vice-chair, who is subject to the approval of the DPA Director, may be any Hamline

University faculty member, including adjuncts, or a faculty member at another university.

The committee should include at least one person outside Hamline who is an expert in the

content area of the dissertation.

Besides the chair, at least one other person on the committee must hold a doctorate that

required completion of a dissertation.

A student’s selection of his or her dissertation committee chair is crucial, since the chair must be

someone with whom the student can work effectively. The chair will, if requested, assist the student

in selecting the other committee members.

Primary responsibility for creating the dissertation committee rests with the students. However,

students are encouraged to seek faculty participation as soon as they have completed all course

work, passed the exam, and selected a dissertation topic. To the extent that students experience

difficulty in assembling their committees, they may consult with and work through the program

director. The names and signatures of the dissertation committee will be included on the registration

form for Dissertation 8992 and kept in the student’s file.


F. Human Subjects Research Federal law requires that any research that involves human subjects and receives federal funding (or

that is located at a institution receiving federal funding) must be reviewed and approved by an

institutional review board (IRB) before research can proceed.

Hamline University now reviews all dissertation proposals through a university-wide IRB.

Information and application forms can be found at:

http://www.hamline.edu/committees/institutional-review-board/

According to federal law, there are four classes of research involving human subjects that must

have a full review by the entire IRB:

Research involving minors or students, unless it only involves the observation of

public behavior and no investigator participates in the activities being observed,

Research involving prisoners, fetuses, pregnant women or in vitro fertilization,

Research involving mentally disabled people,

Research involving subject deception of any kind.

Research that does not involve any of the above four classes of human subjects is exempt from the

need for a full review by the IRB.

Students will find most of their proposals to be exempt from review and will be able to complete

the short form. Students can consult with their dissertation chair or program director for details on

completing the IRB form.

If the dissertation fits into the exempt category, only the IRB Short Form needs to be completed and

submitted to the IRB. If the proposal is not exempt, the student must complete the IRB Long Form

and the Short Form and submit both to the chair of the IRB.

Content of the Informed Consent Form

Informed consent is a process of communicating to a subject the purposes, risks, benefits, and

voluntary nature of a specific study. In all dissertations involving human subjects, students need to

obtain informed consent from all human subjects through the use of a consent form. This form

documents that the communication process took place.

The form, a sample of which can be obtained on the Dissertation Resources Blackboard site, must

contain all required elements of informed consent. It should be filled out in everyday language,

avoiding jargon and technical terms, or else the terms should be defined parenthetically so that

subjects can make an informed decision regarding their participation.

Elements of informed consent which must appear in the consent form include:

A statement that the student is conducting research, an explanation of the purposes of the

research, the expected duration of the subject’s participation (including an estimate of the

http://www.hamline.edu/committees/institutional-review-board/


total amount of the subject’s time), a description of the procedures to be followed,

identification of any procedures which are experimental, and the reason for the subject’s

selection.

A description of any reasonably foreseeable risks or discomfort the subject may face.

A description of any benefits to the subject or others which may reasonably be expected

from the research. If there is no benefit to participation to the individual subject, this fact

should be stated on the consent form.

A statement that participation is voluntary, that the subject may refuse to participate, and

that he or she may discontinue participation at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to

which he or she is otherwise entitled.

A statement describing the extent to which confidentiality of records identifying the subject

will be maintained, to whom the data obtained will be made available, whether audio tapes,

video tapes, photographs, or movies will be made, and how long they will be retained.

The student’s name and telephone number, the dissertation chair’s name and telephone

number.

Any use of the data for purposes other than the dissertation must also be disclosed.

Permission for such use must be obtained in a special section of the consent form.

If a consent form is not required, enter “no consent needed” in the IRB application.

G. Review and Approval of Dissertation Proposals The student submits his or her initial dissertation proposal outline at the end of Dissertation I (DPA

8507) to the instructor/chair who may request revisions. The proposal outline is then forwarded to

other members of the committee. Committee members offer their suggestions and recommendations

to the committee chair who then assists the student with changes to the outline prior to enrolling for

Dissertation II.

Using the proposal outline and the comments from the committee, the student is then expected to

further revise his or her proposal outline and proceed with the writing of the full proposal (chapters

1-3) and submit it to the chair and committee members for final approval. One or more committee

meetings may be required during this phase of the review and approval process, at the committee

chair’s discretion. Discussion continues until all members of the committee are satisfied with the

proposal outline.

Final approval of the proposal by the dissertation committee takes place in a formal public defense.

This is scheduled when the chair and committee believe that the student is ready to defend the


proposal. Notice of the defense will be sent to all HSB faculty and students, all of whom are free to

attend.

At the defense, the student is asked to present his or her proposal and address questions—first those

posed by the committee, then those raised by others in attendance. Upon completion of the

presentation and questions, the dissertation committee will meet privately to decide if the proposal

is acceptable. All committee members must agree that the proposal is acceptable.

After meeting privately, the committee will inform the student of its decision. If the proposal is

acceptable, that decision is documented on the DPA Committee Review Form, which is placed in

the student’s file. The student will now advance to candidacy for the DPA degree.

H. Registration During Work on a Dissertation

While students are completing their dissertations, they must register for eight dissertation credits in

DPA 8992-8995. If they need additional time to complete their dissertations, they must enroll on a

non-credit basis. There is a registration fee per semester for continuous enrollment without

academic credit. Students are not required to register for continuous enrollment during the summer

session, but they may register for dissertation credits during the summer. Once a student has

completed and defended his or her dissertation, his or her dissertation committee chair will assign a

grade of Pass/No Pass for DPA 8995.

I. Research and Writing Once a dissertation proposal has been formally approved by the committee, the student can

undertake his or her research. The exact timetable and process for this research varies, but normally

the process takes one to two years. During that time the student should consult with his or her

committee chair and committee and work out a schedule for meeting, reviewing draft chapters, etc.

See the research credit outlines in Section IV.

J. Final Editing

Prior to final committee approval, dissertations must receive a technical review by an editor

selected by the student to be sure that they meet APA criteria and conform to the University’s

doctoral dissertation standards. Changes identified by the editor must be made before the

dissertation is brought to the committee for final approval and subsequent publication.

K. Dissertation Writing Style The basic style requirements governing dissertations is the most recent edition of the Publication

Manual of the American Psychological Association, typically known as the APA Manual, or simply

APA. Unless otherwise noted, all citations and matters of style must conform with APA. Samples

are available on the DPA Resources site on Blackboard.

While APA shall be the style default, the following rules shall also apply to all dissertations:


Margins. The margins for all pages of a dissertation are one inch on the top and bottom, one

inch on the right side of the page, and one and one half inches on the left side of the page.

Fonts. Times Roman, Times New Roman, and Courier are the only acceptable fonts. All

type for the dissertation must be 12 point.

Justification. Use left justification only.

Block quotes. All block quotes should be double-spaced, with a double space dividing the

quote from the text or entries above and below them.

References. All references in a reference list should be single-spaced, with a double space

dividing the reference from the text or entries above and below them.

Tables and Figures. All tables and figures should be in black and white.

Printing. The final version of the dissertation shall be printed on paper that is a high quality

white color whose minimum standard is similar to 20 pound 25% rag content paper.

Pagination. All page numbers shall be at the upper right corner of the page and include a

running head.

Page Numbering. Page counting begins with the first title page of the dissertation. Small

Roman numeral page numbering begins with the copyright page or the acknowledgments.

This means the first page number will be “iii” if the first page is the copyright page, or “iv” if

there is an “acknowledgments” page. Arabic numbering begins with the first title page

(numbered as 1) of the document and continues consecutively through every following page

of the dissertation.

Signature Page no page number

Dissertation Cover Page page i

Acknowledgments Page page ii

Copyright Page page iii (optional)

Abstract Page page iv

Table of Contents page v

Lists of Tables, Appendices, Figures, etc. page vi (optional)

First page of Dissertation Text page 1

Signature Sheet. The signature sheet is the first page of your dissertation. It includes the

signatures of your dissertation committee chair and members. This page is not numbered.

Abstract. A maximum 350 word abstract of your dissertation must be included.

Chapter Headings. Chapter numbers and titles appear in all capital letters, centered, four spaces

below the top one-inch margin in each chapter, regardless of the number of headings used in a

chapter.

In all instances, the recommendations of the APA Manual (most recent edition) will be followed

and will take precedence over these generalized instructions.


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L. Final Approval of the Dissertation and the Oral Defense

When the dissertation has been completed, a date can be established for the oral defense at which

the student will formally present the dissertation, talk with committee members about the

research process, content, and issues raised by the dissertation, and enjoy a celebration of its

completion. This defense is open to the public.

The dissertation must be approved by the entire dissertation committee in order for the student to

complete the DPA Program. Once approved, the committee will forward a recommendation to

the HSB Dean for granting of the degree.

M. Graduation

It is important that the student contact the Graduate Program Advisor about graduation as soon

as he or she registers for the final dissertation preparation credits (DPA 8995).

The formal graduation ceremony for the DPA Program occurs only once each year, at the regular

University commencement in May. If there is even the slightest possibility that a student will

finish his or her dissertation by the upcoming spring semester, the candidate should submit an

Intent to Graduate form (available in the HSB office) by November 1. The Graduate Programs

Advisor will check the candidate’s record to make sure that everything is in order. Students must

defend their dissertations by April 15th

of the year they intend to graduate.

Prior to graduation, students are responsible for paying all outstanding fees owed to Hamline

University.

N. UMI Dissertation Publishing and Binding

Students must submit one copy of the final draft of their dissertation to Hamline to bind

along with any additional copies of their dissertation they wish to be bound as well as

submit their dissertation electronically to Digital Commons.

http://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/cgi/ir_submit.cgi?context=hsb_all&edbypass=1

In addition, students may decide to submit a final draft of their dissertation to University

Microfilms for publication. More information can be found at

http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/

http://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/cgi/ir_submit.cgi?context=hsb_all&edbypass=1


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Section VIII

DPA Program Time Limits

A. Time Limits to Complete the DPA Degree Time limits for completion of the DPA degree assume that students pursuing doctorates will

make satisfactory and steady progress. Normal progress is defined as the completion of all

required core courses within the first three years of study and completion of all coursework

within seven years.

Students must complete the DPA degree within ten years from their initial enrollment in graduate

coursework at Hamline applied toward the DPA degree. Coursework must be completed in seven

years. Extensions of this limit will be granted in cases where the student has shown steady

progress in the program. Credits that are ten years old or older require, by petition, faculty

evaluation and approval before they may be restored.

B. Leaves of Absence

If a student in good standing (and who is making satisfactory progress toward the DPA degree)

must interrupt studies for compelling reasons (e.g., sustained ill health or increased work

responsibilities), he or she may request a leave of absence for a stated period, usually not to

exceed one year. This leave must be approved in advance. To obtain an approved leave of

absence, the student should write a brief letter of explanation to the program director. All

approved leaves of absence stop the clock on the ten year completion rule for the period of the

permitted leave.

Students who fail to maintain continuous enrollment, who do not pay the continuous enrollment

fee during dissertation work, or who do not have an approved leave of absence, will have to

submit a request for readmission to the program. When readmitted, the student will normally be

subject to all of the requirements for the degree in effect at the time of readmission.

C. Continuous Enrollment All students not on an official leave of absence must maintain continuous enrollment in the

program. Students who are not registered for coursework (core, elective, or dissertation courses)

must pay the continuous enrollment fee each semester (excluding summers) in order to remain in

the program.


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D. Incomplete Coursework

Each student is responsible for contacting his or her instructor to ask for permission to receive a

grade of incomplete for a course. It is expected that any work will be completed, and any

incomplete grade removed, within four months of the end of the semester in which the

incomplete was granted.

The University’s deadline for completion of an incomplete course is one year from the last

meeting day of the course. Extensions beyond the specified time limit are rarely approved if the

student has enrolled in subsequent semesters since the removal of any incompletes should be the

student’s first priority.

If satisfactory required work is not submitted by the required deadline, a grade of F (i.e., fail)

will be automatically entered on the student’s transcript in place of the incomplete. This course

grade can be changed upon recommendation of the faculty member directing the work.


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Section IX

Advanced Studies Program Governance

The Advanced Studies Program is located within the Hamline University School of Business.

The Graduate Curriculum and Assessment Committee assists the Dean in providing overall

policy direction for the graduate programs.

A. Advanced Studies Program Director/Department Chair

The program director, appointed by the HSB Dean, provides day-to-day direction for the

Advanced Studies Program, with lead responsibility for admissions, curriculum development and

coordination, teaching assignments, administrative approvals such as transfer credit, and other

operational responsibilities delegated to him or her by the Dean.

B. DPA Dissertation Committee

Each DPA student who successfully reaches the dissertation stage is responsible for organizing a

dissertation committee to oversee the formal preparation of his or her dissertation, as described

above in Section VII.E. Students work most closely with their committee chairs, and it is the

chair who decides when drafts are ready to be sent to the entire committee for review and

discussion.

C. Academic Advisor

The academic advisor for all DPA students is Erin McCoy. Erin is available for help with issues

regarding registration, grading issues, policies, and general questions about the DPA program

and the School of Business. If you are uncertain who to contact with your question, please start

with Erin and she can guide you to the correct person.

D. Grievances and Appeals When any rule in this Policy Manual and Student Handbook applies to coursework, independent

study, or dissertation work, the instructor or instructors of the course (or independent study or

dissertation work) shall be the judge(s) of the application of these rules.

Students disagreeing with the application of any rule may appeal to the Associate Dean of

Academic Affairs of the Hamline University School of Business. In a case where the Dean is the

instructor whose actions have resulted in an appeal, a second member of the HSB faculty will be

asked to perform an independent investigation and make a recommendation.


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If this does not yield satisfaction, the issue may be appealed to the University Provost, whose

decision shall be final. Information about the appeal process is available in the Hamline

University Graduate Bulletin.

Documents

Policy Manual and Student Handbook - Hamline